volunteers and the law

Many charities and community organisations rely on volunteers and private companies and public sector bodies are also increasingly moving into this area by either offering volunteer places to unemployed people or releasing paid staff to undertake voluntary work as part of their overall corporate social investment policies and activities.

Welfare to work reforms, government announcements about the status of employees as well as a growing number of important landmark cases are changing the rights and responsibilities of both the volunteer and those who manage them. Consequently it is important that all those who are involved in or with volunteering understand the latest requirements, for example

• The difference between an employee and a ‘worker’
  • when a volunteer might be an employee or worker
  • the implications for employment rights, minimum wage etc
• The tax implications if volunteers are paid or receive taxable benefits
• The potential implications if volunteers who are
  • charity trustees
  • asylum seekers
  • on state benefits
  • are paid or receive certain perks or benefits as a volunteer
• The risks faced by
  • volunteers and by service users
  • members of the public and others affected by volunteers
• When the law requires risk assessments in relation to volunteers and others
• How to carry out a risk assessment

 #ukemplaw #HR #humanresources #management #volunteers #charity #nonprofit #ceo #leadership #schools #fe #community #business #education #localgov